Iran says new sanctions will not stop enrichment

Published June 10th, 2010 - 11:27 GMT

A day after the UN Security Council approved a US-drafted resolution for new sanctions, Iran's IAEA envoy reiterated that his country's nuclear enrich

A day after the UN Security Council approved a US-drafted resolution for new sanctions, Iran's IAEA envoy reiterated that his country's nuclear enrichment will not be suspended. Iran's Ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Ali-Asghar Soltanieh expressed regret about the West's approach regarding Iran's nuclear policy.

"It is regretful that this small number of Western countries do not want to learn a lesson from their past mistakes...they suppose that by passing the new resolution, the Islamic Republic would falter in its decision," Soltanieh said in an interview with IRNA on Thursday. The Iranian envoy criticized the new sanctions resolution for not having any "legal basis," adding that it would only strengthen the Iranian nation's resolve in defending their rights to such technological achievements.

Describing the fresh sanctions as a new failure for the US, Soltanieh said, "Iran will never put a halt to its enrichment program and will continue these activities under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency."